Coalition okays amending agreement

Coalition leaders Robert Fico (Smer-SD), Bela Bugar (Most-Hid) and Andrej Danko (Slovak National Party/SNS), meeting for talks on Friday, agreed on drawing up an amendment to the coalition agreement. Additionally, the three leaders gave a green light to holding regular Coalition Council meetings. They also concurred that there is no alternative to their Government, but chose not to discuss any 'personnel' issues. Danko said that no minister is worth toppling the Cabinet for. "We've agreed on 'red lines' delimiting our further activities," said Bugar. "There'll be no more sending messages via the press," he added. Meanwhile, Robert Fico said that a working group would be set up in which each of the three coalition parties will have its representative. He recognised the right of each party to pursue its own priorities, but stressed the need to ensure fiscal responsibility. The amendment to the coalition agreement should be approved on September 1.